What is the difference between Mitosis and Meiosis?

These processes are easily mixed up. Both Mitosis and Meiosis are typed of cell division, but the 2 processes end up with different results!

I always find it helpful to think of it like this:

MiTosis - (with a T for two)= gives rise to TWO identical cells.

MEioSis (no T) = gives rise to FOUR non-identical cells (has an E and S) = gives rise to egg and sperm cells

The other difference between mitosis and meiosis is whether the end product is DIPLOID or HAPLOID.

You can think of diploid as being the normal number of chromosomes in a cell, whereas HAploid cells have HALF the normal number of chromosomes.

In mitosis, the cell wants to replicate itself to produce two identical cells with the correct number of chromosomes. So mitosis produces diploid cells.

In meiosis sex cells are produced.

Sex cells or gametes (egg and sperm) have a haploid number of chromosomes. This is because when sex cells they fuse together at fertilisation they want to make the correct number of chromosomes in the cell. Each sex cell will have half the normal number of chromosomes so when they fuse together this give rise to the normal (diploid) number.

So Meiosis produces haploid cells.

So in conclusion, mitosis and meiosis are both types of cell division. Mitosis gives rise to two identical diploid cells, whereas meiosis gives rise to four non-identical sex cells (gametes) that are haploid.